lovelytiger6791

[lovelytiger6791]

Day 1

Dear Diary,

  I've finally moved to Bridgewood, North Dakota, it's really cold here. I tried making friends today while helping my parents unpack the moving truck. She looked around my age but seemed a little older. Her short blonde hair and light blue eyes nearly matching with her blue-eyed white husky as they walked by. I attempted my salutation as she strolls past, but she didn't answer me nor look at me as if I was thin air. A bit hurt, I turned to continue to bring the boxes in, for me, I understood that making friends would be difficult.

     As hard as the realization seemed, I just couldn't help but wonder what this North Dakota School was going to be like. I prayed that everyone would be nice, back in Ohio, it was awfully warm, but it has its seasons of snow and sleet. However not too many nice people resigned there, I was bullied by everyone. From popular girls pranking me, and jocks spitting on me, I hate Jason, Ohio(Made up town btw)! That's why I'm glad I moved away from all that turmoil.

   I moved in the midst of the school year, which meant I'd be put into new classes to help me catch up with the rest of the students here. I hope to God that this school year goes by as quickly and smoothly as possible, and just maybe let me have at least one good companion.

  I'm a junior in high school, I'm 17yrs old. My name is Amianna Brooklyn. Thanks for listening to my thoughts, I appreciate it.

Bye now~

   Closing my diary, I set my ink pen in the medium-sized gray cup of pencils on my desk. I leaned back in my swivel chair, letting the fuzzy white throw blanket envelop me in it's a warm embrace. Sighing, I continued to think deeply about what might happen in this new school, every possibility in fact. Loud clanking noises reached my ears from downstairs, bringing me back to my surroundings. With that, I walked out of my box filled room and downstairs into the kitchen. My parents unpacked boxes full of dishes and silverware, contently putting them away. They didn't notice me walk in neither even hear me until I cleared my throat. "Oh! Ami you startled me, what are you doing hun?" Mom says holding some plates close to her chest as she tried to catch her startled breath.

   I shrugged and went towards a box; opening it. I start to help put dishes away, "How do you like your new home, pretty neat huh?" Dad says in a cheerful tone, "It's nice but cold" I answer silently. I took some cups from a box next to her and gave her a questioning gaze. she looked up at me with a blank face before pointing to the cupboard on her right side. I nod as I start my route around all the empty boxes towards the cupboards.

"You know Ami, you've been awfully quiet since we got out the car. " Mom says as she helps me put the cups away. I shrugged "I just don't feel like talking, just a lot of stuff on my mind I guess." I responded, pausing to look at her. "Well, a little conversation wouldn't hurt once in a while," she says understandingly.

I nod, "I know"

We finished putting all the boxed items away and started to pile the empty boxes outside on the curb for the garbage truck. "Finally done," Dad throws his arm over Mom's shoulder. "Yep," she says looking into his spirited hazel eyes.

   I felt relief also seeing all the empty boxes in the trash bin, a cold wind started to blow through my black hair, I shivered. The sharp breeze felt like icy needles as it caressed my bare cheek, a sudden sound, a whimper, seemed to be carried in the short-lived gust. Curiously, I turned my head to the sound, to see something past the trash bins. Across the street, there was a dark, narrow tunnel that leads supposedly into the forest in front of our house. I narrowed my eyes at the pathway and took a step forward, however, I stopped to the sound of my Dad's voice "Let's go inside and order pizza to celebrate our new home" Dad exclaimed as he turns and lead us into the house. "Ami, Are you coming?" Mom says looking back at me, a gentle smile laid on her plump pink lips. For a moment, it felt like I couldn't hear her calls to me, they only sounded strangely distant. An echo, "Ami?". I blinked a couple of times, before veering around to follow her.

  Once we were inside the house I shut the door, locking it. I walk into the living room but paused as a sharp pain hit my left arm and shoulder. I clenched it tightly as I went towards the couch to sit down, waiting for the pain to subside. 'I didn't even make it all the way in the room yet and my arm is already aching, Damn it!' I thought scrunching my nose from the pain. Mom walks in with a smile smeared on her face only to be drained away in a mere second, refilled with grief and uncertainty. "Does it hurt again?" She asks, giving me a hard look. I shook my head, "No, it just aches" I lied looking at the floor. Her tense form faltered as she only nods, knowing the factual answer that floated in the room. She sat down on the couch next to me unsure of what to do. "Do you want an ice pack?" Concern laced in her voice. Ignoring her, I closed my eyes trying not to focus on the pain, taking a deep breath every few moments.

  Dad walks into the room still on the phone, "Yeah, some soda too please," he informs, then looks up from the floor, noticing the atmosphere. He frowns his brows while still on the phone, Mom stares at him, her brown eyes full of sorrow. His eyes glide towards me as he nods, and turns back into the kitchen, continuing to order. "Sprite is fine, " he mumbled.

She turns to me, "I know, this move wasn't the best idea, but this move gives you another chance to make friends." She takes a slid closer to me, "Real friends, Okay?" she says giving me a side hug gently not to hurt my arm, I nod.

"Mom I know, but it's just that what if these kids are just as mean, like the ones back home. What if I get bullied and threatened again" I tell her as my eyes started to burn, overwhelmed with a variety of emotions. "They won't and if they do, I'll start bringing out the lawsuits," she warns, a crucial expression engraved on her face.

    Meeting her gaze, catching a glimpse of the intense glow of determination drifting freely in her brown orbs. Get up from the couch still holding my arm gently and walked towards the stairs, "Hey," I turned to look at mom, who was looking at whoever was talking. I looked to where she was looking and there stood Dad in the kitchen doorway leaning against the door frame with a puzzled look. "What happened?" He asked looking between her and me. "Nothing," I muttered continuing upstairs. He peers at Mom, still puzzled, "I'll explain later," is all she says before I'm all the way upstairs out of earshot.

   I walk into my now non-box filled room and laid out on the plush gray and white bed set, I stared at the ceiling fan as it spun in slow circles. I sighed, as the pain in my upper arm and shoulder finally diminished. Turning on my side left, I stared blankly at my bookshelf full of novels and diaries that I've gone through, through the years. I stared at the titles of each book, from tragedy to mystery to romance. "Maybe I should write some more in my diary" I suggest to myself out loud as I get up from the bed. I walked to my brass brown desk in the corner of the room near the window and sat down, grabbing my pen from the cup and click it. Opening my book, the first thing I see in all of my diaries is my signature. I stared at it before taking a deep breath and turned the pages until I found where I had left off.

I looked at the empty page and began to write my thoughts down as they flowed into my hand and on to the paper.

Dear Diary,

  I'm worried. I'm worried that I'll be bullied again, that I'll be hurt. That I'll be stuck in the same situation as when I was in Ohio, diary. I'm scared, I'm shaking, I think I'm gonna be sick. You remember what happened that time right? About my arm and shoulder? Don't you?! Why won't you answer me! PLEASE HELP ME!!!

  My breathing hastened as I wrote vigorously on the paper. My grasp on the pen growing more painful by the minute.

   Diary, when will you realize that I need you to listen to me!! I'm stressed out diary, I need a break or I'm gonna brea-

SNAP!

   I gasp as the fine point pen snaps on the paper leaving an ink trail coming out of the pen. Blankly I dazed off, looking at the wall in front of me.

  "Ami pizza's here!" Dad yells suddenly making me flinch. Causing my pen to fall, making a dime-sized puddle appear on to the redwood floor. I take heavyweight breaths, looking at my paper to see the long zig-zag ink line going down the paper, I looked at my hands as they shook. I shakily sighed and grabbed the broken ink pen off the floor and threw it away; got an old wet rag and cleaned the ink up. "Ami?" Mom calls. "Coming!" I yelled back, tossing the rag to the trash and stand. I stumble a bit, dismay still lingering in my body.

  I stared at the floor as I walked down the steps, turning into the kitchen. The aroma from the pizzas seemed to snatch control from me as my feet guide me to the 3 large boxes that sat on the kitchen counter, Mom and Dad sat at the table eating and smiling at one and knowingly. They peeked at me, their face changed more and more as they observed me, "Ami, you alright? You look pale," Dad says standing up quickly and walking to my side, laying a hand in the middle of my back.

"I-I'm fine, don't worry about it, " voice quivering as I pass, with 3 slices of each kind on my plate. He watches me walk past him before sending an undecipherable towards Mom. She looks back at him and shrugs, I sit down in the middle of them and begin to eat my pizza in silence. They stole glances at me every once in a while before Dad came to the table and sit down next to me, across from mom.

  "What's really wrong Ami?" Dad implores looking at me with concerned shrouding his face, I take another bite of pizza, staying silent. "Damn it, Ami!" Dad bursts out slamming his hands on the table, Mom jumped startled by the sudden action. "Lu?!" Mom says addressing him cautiously, Dad looks at her and scrunches his nose. "What?! She never opens up all she do-" Dad then pauses, realization hitting him. "You know what?" Dad mutters before whisking to the stairs, Mom watches him in confusion as he leaves.

'I knew where he was heading, to go look at my diary, I really have nothing to hide, so he can read all he wants. He'll just make it more arduous on himself to read it though, ignorance is always bliss' I thought as I finished the last bite of my second slice and moved on to my third.

   Minutes went by until he finally came back downstairs, Mom gazed up at him. Seeing his face full of bewilderment and seriousness made her tense, "Lu? What happened?" Mom carefully interrogates, she watches his expression with confusion and worry orifices as comes more into the kitchen. He bends down, whispering in her ear. She nods and walks out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

   I just continued to eat like nothing was happening, Dad came to the table and sat across from me this time. He was silent for a good 10mins as if he was materializing his thoughts, I don't blame him. What I wrote in that diary is some deep stuff so it was actually on him to read it anyway. Yes, I barely open up, but I guess its trauma from the dilemmas I was pertained to. He soon finally broke the tense silence, "I'm sorry for my outburst earlier Ami," his voice oddly broad as if trying not to crack, caught my attention. His hazel eyes downward to the table, yet they grew dark as he went on. "I just get so frustrated when you don't explain what's on your mind instead of telling us face to face like you used to do. I read your diary and I just want to ask, why do you feel this way?.." he asks intertwining his fingers together, "Feel what way?" I questioned back looking up at him. "Ami, we can't get to the problem if you keep yourself closed off, we need to know the problem in order to solve it," he says softly.

"I don't want to talk about it" I plainly say as I continue to eat, "Ami, I'm serious," he tells me a bit louder, "I am too, you read it didn't you? So you should know what the deal is! Telling you guys my problems face to face was the old me, months ago Dad. I'm about to turn 18! I'm going to be an adult, I have to learn now how to take care of my own problems. For years you guys never even wanted to help with my problems until that very day! What's the use of changing? Now stop worrying about me all the time, it's just annoying!" I yelled, standing and taking my last slice with me to my room. Dad sat at the kitchen table stunned, I made my way upstairs while Mom made her way down. Her eyes glazing as she catches my gaze trying to stop me, but I shoved past her.

"Ami, please" Mom calls to me, her voice straining, "I don't want to hear it, mom," I announced, walking into my room before slamming the door. I plopped down at my desk with my pizza, a sigh escapes my lips as I take another bite of my pizza. I looked around my new room, just trying to ease my mind. I look at the pictures hanging on my wall, pictures of past family members, and old memories from when I was little. On my desk was our entire family photo of where we had a huge family reunion, I stared at it seeing me in the middle in my smiling Mom's arms as an infant, just a couple of months old. Dad with his arm around her waist as everyone encircles them with exhilaration.

   I smiled a bit seeing my tiny baby smile, I was adorable. So innocent, yet I ripened into become such a miserable teen. I frowned at the thought, 'Why me? I prayed all the time for those kids to stop bullying me, why wasn't it answered?' I thought as I took a bite of my pizza. "I need some air," I said mid-chew as I got up and go towards my window.

I pull the string to the blinds down lifting them and opened the windows, letting the frigid air smack in the face. I flinched, but as the cold wind kept blowing into my room I started to lean into it. Closing my eyes for a moment, then opened them back up feeling more calmer. I looked around my new neighborhood from the window, seeing the long sidewalk stretch from one side to the other. Old dirt-covered snow was scattered on everyone's lawn from weeks prior to our arrival, the seasons we're in the midst of change, Spring was coming. Eventually, my gaze finally landed right back on that forest tunnel I saw earlier today.

It was directly across the street, a dark entranceway, seemingly untouched by anyone of that matter, I stared at it. "What is in there?" I said to myself audibly, I stared for another minute.

"Weird" I whispered to myself as I walked away from the window and back to my pizza. I picked up the cold slice and sat back down in my chair, I recollect the event that just briefly transpired. I yelled at Dad and almost knocked Mom down the stairs. At how life was going for me, it sometimes felt as if I wasn't supposed to be born, like if I hadn't been born then some of our relatives would still be alive and those kids wouldn't be able to bully me, almost to death.

   I felt my heart skip at the thought, my eyes sizzled as tears began to form, but I held them back.

"Maybe, I shouldn't go to school" I suggested as I took the last bite of pizza I had. I rose from my seat and walked to my door, I opened it and ran into someone. The sauce of my pizza smeared on to my face, I grunted from the impact and back up only to see my Dad's serious face. I glared at him. "I don't want to go to school," I stated quietly. He paused,  "You have to, I can't change that, be social, you'll make it," he told me with a forceful tone in his voice. He was still boiling over from earlier, "And if I can't?" I asked him, crossing my arms, "Try harder" he says plainly.

I scoffed, "Obviously, I did that but did it work the first time I tried?" I said as my eyes stung again, looking up at him and frowning. "Ami, I know your school life isn't the best when it comes to friends, but your education is another story. That's something you need more than friends to make it in life" he told me, I rolled my eyes. He sighed "Either way you're still going to school, there's no way of getting out of it," He says putting a hand on my shoulder, I shrugged him off and sharply glared.

   "So, are you ready to tell me what's going on with my teenage daughter?" He says as he puts his hands in his pocket awkwardly; I stared at his hazel eyes. Then looked away, walking back into my room, "I'm on my period" I lied and slammed the door in his face. I leaned against my door sliding down, I hear Dad sigh on the other side as his footsteps lead away from the door and downstairs.

   I sat on the floor for a while, I used my pizza napkin to finally wipe away the sauce that covered me. I toss the wasted half-eaten slice in the trash before I went to my bed, crossing my legs on the headboard. I sighed scratching the back of my head in frustration, I grabbed my phone from my bed stand and opened old text messages from fake friends and bullies who somehow got my phone information even after being deleted. I went through them reading each text, my eyes singed thinking of how they all treated me. My arm ached as memories of what they all did to me flowed back in, it was the worst; the final thing they ever did that drove us to move away from there.

11months ago

   I walked down the hallway with my books in my hands, backpack hanging from my left shoulder. I kept checking my surroundings, seeing if the coast was clear for me to keep walking or for a signal to run. I'm so stupid to be walking out here by myself, but I didn't have anyone to walk with. All the students were against me, I never knew what I ever did to deserve such vile treatment from every single student here, from rumors to actions that took place. In the middle of my thoughts, I was tripped, my books fell out of my hands and all over the marble floor. I grunted, making contact with the hard ground, "Haha she fell what a clumsy Lil bitch" a familiar cheeky voice declared, I turned over from my stomach to look at whose voice it belonged to. Low and behold, there stood that same black haired girl with piercing bright blue eyes and another girl who was blonde and had light brown eyes. 'Raven and Robin' their names came to mind, the supposed princesses of the school, and the ringleaders of my worst possible nightmare. They laughed at me, while I started collecting my books and standing up to sped walk away. Ignoring them.

   "Hey! Where are you going the party is just getting started?" Raven said pushing me against a locker, I grunt through clenched teeth on impact as the knob of the locker drilled into my side, Robin slapped my books out my arms and whistled. My heart plummeted to my stomach, eight other students began coming out of classrooms and janitor closets, even the bathrooms. Devilishly painted smirks on each their faces, "We heard you were moving away from us, pet" Raven cooed with a childish smile, "Yes, across the states, and away from you, far away from all of you" I yelled hoping to get a teacher's attention from one of the classrooms, "Awe how pathetic, she wants to be brave for the first time, but you know we won't be that far away for long once you move," Robin says chuckling, I looked away from them and looked around us. Other students with smirks on their faces surrounded us. "So we all prepared a temporary goodbye gift for you, "

     "Go to hell!" I hissed as I spit on her face, Robin flinched as it landed on her cheek, and rubbed it away before glaring back into my eyes.

   Her face twisting into a disgusting smile, causing my heart pounded in my chest as if trying to escape, Raven's blue eyes bore into me from behind Robin. Everyone moved in closer as Robin slams me on the floor like it was nothing, not a second later punches and kicks flew at me in all directions. Kicks landing into my stomach,  the back of my head, my chest, I could only gasp as I puked immediately after feeling a punch connect with my jaw sending my head into someone's awaiting kick. I cried out as someone stomped on my ankle repeatedly, they all laughed continuing on. Abruptly, I was forcefully picked up until I was standing, I whimpered as my right ankle buckled under me. I felt weak as I strain to open my less puffy eye, with blurry vision I saw an open locker next to me. Blood spilled from my busted lip as I coughed, Robin moved my limp body to the locker and stuck my arm broken inside, my head drooped forward as my energy seemed to evaporate. "Do it, James! Do it until her ugly ass arm falls off!" James smirked, "With pleasure, sweetness" his raspy voice seemed to hum. James was the captain of the football team. One of the biggest guys in this school, and with her declaration he drew the locker door as far as it could go and slammed the locker repeatedly on my arm making a loud crunching cacophony become audible to everyone's ears. I screamed in agony as tears fell down my bruised cheeks, I gazed at everyone's faces. They were all laughing in approval, except one.

   Raven stood the farthest away, even after getting a few hits in herself, she looked disgusted at what this all turned into, her expression was hopeless as she faked her laugh. Her eyes held her apology, she knew this was too far. Yet she didn't stop it, she couldn't. Her eyes seemed to glass over as I gasped, taking a few more punches from Robin to the stomach. Simultaneously, they were interrupted by a teacher's voice, "Hey! What are ya'll doing there?!" He shouted with an intensely strict tone, "Run! It's coach Gilèbin!" One of the guys yelled before taking off. I collapsed as Robin let me go after James slammed my arm one more time before running with the rest of the students leaving me there to bleed out on the floor, "We'll find you!!". It was the last thing I heard from Robin before they were far away, their laughs and giggles following them. Coach ran to me and shook his head. "Pitiful, these students are terrible," he mumbled in his thick Russian accent and ran after the other students.

   I shakily rolled on my stomach, coughing, adding more blood to the puddle from my almost torn off broken arm. My textbooks soaked in my blood and vomit, the pages seeming to drink it turning red themselves. Blood dripped from the grey locker, creating a dripping sound on to the flood. I tried to speak out, but it only came out as a wheezing whisper ending in another blood-filled cough. I reached my hand out desperately, terrified of the possibility of dying in this wretched school. My body protested as the last bit of stamina I carried oozed out of me, my head dropped to the cold ground, my vision began to fail me as my breathing became shallow. On the opposite side of the hallway, the echoing sound of keys and walky-talkies could be heard, distant voices coming my way. They spoke with authority, others in pessimism as they looked on to the bloody scene, "Policemen" was the last thing I thought of before I finally blackout.

    I woke up, dazed. I was in a hospital bed, my parents next to the bed looking at each other with horrendous expressions. I grunted trying to speak, evoking pain to shoot through me before I could to do so again. I scrunched my nose swallowing dryly, but that small sound caught Mom's awareness of my consciousness. She started to silently sob as she stood up and held my right hand in her's, Dad had a sad look on his face as he looked over my bruised and beaten body. Wait a minute, why is it so quiet? Mom is a loud cryer why is she s- I soon realized that I couldn't hear them, I couldn't hear the machines running. A couple of nurses walked by the room laughing, I couldn't hear them. My eyes widened as I moved my gaze to between the two of them, Mom looked at me confused as she wiped her face. She seemed to be mouthing a "What's wrong?", I went to talk again, but my mom shook her head at my endeavor. I paused thinking before bracing for the pain as I moved my good arm, it was sore but surprisingly painless. I pointed to my ear shaking my head a little, their expressions switched from worried to terrified and angered. Dad said something to mom before getting up from his seat.

    He left the room as mom grabbed her phone calling someone as mom was back sobbing to herself, Dad appears with a doctor and a nurse. The doctor stared at me as Dad crossed his arms in anger, he seemed to be almost yelling at the man. The nurse then stood in front of him as he took a step closer to him, Mom held his hand as she guided him to sit down. The doctor seemed pretty calm as he grabbed his flashlight pen to check my eyes, by how his mouth moved he tried to talk to me. I just looked at him through my one black eye with a confused face, he looks puzzled telling the nurse something. She departs for a second and was back with a blow horn, his lips then read "Cover your ears" to my parents, they did as they were told when he pressed the button. It was faint, but still nothing. Mom jumped at the sound that I hardly heard, I stared at the doctor blankly, he nods and starts talking to my parents for a while. He then leaves and another nurse comes back with a small container of medicine, she explains something my parents and quickly leaves, the doctor then comes back with a whiteboard and wrote on it "Are you hungry? " I nodded, the nurse next to him places a bed table in front of me. She sets down a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a ham sandwich with a small can of soda next to it. The doctor erased his writing and wrote something else, then showed it to me "From scale 1 to 10 how much are you still hurting?" I raised an eyebrow and tried to move to sit up, the doctor wrote something else on the board as fast as lighting, before I was all the way up."But don't move" It said. I nodded and laid back down, "Can you write it?" He asked I lifted my good arm and grabbed the marker "When it happened, 100,000, but right but it's a sharp 12 now" I wrote, my mom cringed and took the board from me gently. I looked at her confused and let her take it.

  She started writing on the board vigorously, "Oh honey we're so sorry, we were so blind of the happenings in school, we really should have listened to your pleas this morning about those kids bullying you, now look what happened. We're so so sorry" It said. I waved my hand in a shooing motion, her eyes full of remorse as I reached for the board, and hands it over willingly. "You never listen to me anyway so why bother to apologize now, it happened and now they're out there planning to come for me again! They even said they were going to find us when I move," I wrote and showed them all, my parents looked hurt at this. Suddenly my hearing came back and everything was loud, I winced holding my ear as they rung. "Oh looks like her hearing came back by the looks of it," the doctor said taking the medicine back now that I guess I wouldn't be needing it anymore. I held my head and looked at my arm, I moved the blankets off my shoulder. I saw the stitches and wraps covering it, I hoarsely sighed. "Will you be okay?" I heard dad whisper, I shrugged a shoulder not looking at him, neither of them. "When will I get out of here?" I asked the doctor, my voice painfully hoarse as I try to clear my throat, "Friday night" he said in a low tone. I nodded and began eating my food.

  When I got out of that hospital, I barely talked to my parents since then. I never asked for anything from them or even let them talk to me. I never told them my problems ever again because I knew they would probably brush it off like the first time. Why open up when they shut you out, right?

Present

I snapped out of my thoughts as I felt my arm pulsate from the recollection of that locker door, I shook my head clearing my mind and looked at the clock. 8:00 pm, "Time sure is slow here", I said to myself, my eyes then trail to the window, the sun was almost setting. I sighed and got off my bed and went to my chestnut-colored clothes drawer, grabbed some dark blue skinny jeans and a black sweat jacket that said 'Cali' on it in cursive with the view of the California sunset at the beach. I grabbed my black knee boots, slid them on and grabbed my house key from my desk drawer.

   I opened my door and started down the steps, and into the living room where my parents were watching a movie. I walked towards the front door and grabbed the knob, "Where are you going?" Mom asked I didn't answer. "Ami?" Dad called to me, "What the hell do you want?!" I finally screamed, they fell silent. Dad stood and came to me, giving me his best glare, I glared back my dark brown eyes laced with anger and hate bored into him. He sighed closing his eyes, "Where are you heading, Amianna?" he said saying my full name, my eyes widen a bit.

   I haven't heard them call me that in a long time, I never thought I'd hear it again. I looked at the floor feeling defeated, idiotic at that for being this way towards them for so long, I just can't bring my self to forgive just yet. "Amianna?" Dad called softly this time, "I'm getting some fresh air to cool my nerves, I'll be back later tonight," I said stuffing my hands in my sweatshirt pockets. Dad grinned, his eyes sparkled with hope, "Be careful, and thank you for at least explaining yourself " he said with a bit of spirit in his voice, I scrunched my nose a bit "Doesn't mean I'm not upset anymore," I said lowly under my breath, so only he could hear. His eyes widen and his grin disappeared, but his eyes still shimmered with hope, "Right, I know" he said as I opened the door and closed it before he got another word out. I walked down the steps, on to the driveway, and down to the sidewalk. I was going to explore the neighborhood and the streets outside of them.

I walked down the sidewalk in front of my neighbor's houses, no one was outside they were all inside sleeping or whatever.

   I continued towards the entrance of the neighborhood and turned down the road towards a roadside walkway. Only like a few cars were on the road as I walked, I then came to the end of the path seeing the rest of the walkway was only partly covered grass and snow and stopped, I turned around to see how far I went from the neighborhood, it was almost barely in sight. Paranoid I turned back round "I think I should turn back now, I don't want to make this a long way back" I mutter, proceeding back towards the neighborhood.

   I was kind of weary when I made it back to my house, but not really exhausted. I haven't been outside much after the incident, but before I used to walk everywhere. To the store, to school, I even walked home a few times. Ambling up the driveway, I suddenly stopped in front of the house. The wind had picked up again and again, it carried that same sound with it. A tiny whimper, twirling around I looked across the street to where that same dark tunnel was. Where that sound was coming from, I was curious about what was over there. On the other side.

  I gazed back at the house then to the sky, a tingling sensation in my neck told me to go inside, but my legs acted on their own and turned towards the tunnel, I then remembered that I had a small flashlight in one of my sweatshirt pockets. I patted my pockets looking for it, "Found it" I said as I checked to see if the light was working, clicking it on as bright as ever. I started towards the tunnel and walk inside, it felt as though it were barbed on the side, but I kept going. The tunnel was full of leaves and branches, I then shined the light ahead and saw an opening ahead. I moved a bit faster wanting to get out the thorns and when I made it out;

    (Play music for experience😄)



   I stared in awe at everything around me. The trees were tall, the green moss and grass glowed like the moon reflected off the dew that was on them, fireflies flew around me as I looked at them, I smiled as they surrounded the whole area. Moss covered like it was its personal soft blanket, the place was untouched by snow, the wind didn't blow as coldly as on the other side.

  I roamed further into the forest, the fireflies steering me. Mouth gaped, I watched as the green vine above sway. Nightly moon flowers adorning them with their pink and white patterns, releasing their sweet honey-like scent. The sounds of running water became within earshot as I wander, a waterfall, "Just Wow!" I excitedly giggled, kneeling down near the elegantly flowing water. Hibiscus and Lotus flowers floated in the water, their roots clutching desperately to the rocks below. I caught a glimpse of small grayish-silver fish near the surface. The moon's soft glisten bounced off their backs as they touched the surface offensively greeting me, the waterfall sparkled under the moon as it trickles down the mossy rocks. "Well it appears this may be my new hang out spot," I spoke, my voice almost hitched in my throat as I gaze at the surrounding area, "It's so serene, I bet its gorgeous during the day" I breathed, visualizing everything under the evening sun.

  Then a rustling sound startled me, I swirled around quickly standing up. The rustling stops, "Who's there?" I called out, shining my light in the direction of the sound. I paused taking a hesitant step forward, unexpectedly I hear the familiar whining tone. My eyes broadened, cautiously approaching as my mind reels, thinking about the possibilities of what could be in those bushes.

   I stopped again seeing the bush shake once more, with a deep breath I looked in the bushes to find a small puppy shivering and whining, desperately trying to warm up. I breathed a sigh of relief and stared at the puppy, "Aww poor baby" I said as I went to pet it soft tan fur, it squeaked as my fingertips grazed its frigid body. Carefully, I slid my hand under its belly, careful not to scare it and continued pulled it up out from the frost-covered bush, and into my arms.

   "Poor thing where's your mommy at?" I whispered to it, I started observing the pup as he buried his face in my coat. The moon's heavenly soft light The over us like a blank, leaving no region available for a shadow to lurk. The pup started to shiver even more as the brief wind blows across us, lifting its head momentarily showing its canine features. Realization, bafflement, and fear took its tight grasp on me, this was not your typical puppy. It was a wolf cub.

   My eyes dilated, worried I looked around frantically for the mother, yet she nor their hoard was anywhere to be seen, I sighed relieved. My gaze moved back down to his small fuzzy body, I bit my lip. 'Even though its Mom isn't around, I can't just leave it here all alone in the harsh elements, he'll die' I thought, lifting my coat up to reveal my white tank top. I carefully slip the pup inside, where my warmth groped him.

  "There," I softly murmured, "You should eventually feel better,"

    Contently, I caressed the lump in subtle circles, emulating as if I was expecting. In my efforts to calm and warm the pup, I succeeded. After a good ten minutes, the shivers lessened. It presses itself closer into my abdomen as if signing that my body heat gave it solace. Grinning, I carefully walked back to the stream. The moon high overhead adored the forest with its pure light, fireflies encircled me amplifying the beautiful scenery. I sat down on a moss-covered log, listening to the creatures of the night sing their spiritual chorus to the moon.

   I took a breath, my mind drifting off into a state of rumination. I haven't felt like this in what feels like years, exhaling I close my eyes for a second. Only to quickly be brought back to reality as the pup began wiggling in my coat repositioning itself, I hissed occasionally as its claws scrapped my stomach. After what seems like forever it settled down, scratching my head I decided it was time to start heading back. Slowly, I stand with the resting pup in tow, I yawned while walking towards the tunnel, it whimpered at my sudden movement. "It's okay, shhh, It's Okay" I shushed. The pup started to quiet down, evidently falling back into its deep sleep with a little snore, I sighed. "I definitely need to keep this Lil guy quiet when I get inside, I don't want my parents up my ass about this" I mumbled to myself, rolling my eyes at the thought.

  I threw my hood over my head and started into the tunnel, again thorns began poking me as I protected the pup. Finally making it to the other side, I bit the inside of my cheek as I walked back across the street. It was much darker than before I went into the tunnel, the moon wasn't as bright either. The sound of distant cars passing on the main road outside the neighborhood and crickets were the only things present. I slowly walked up the driveway, careful not to disturb the sleeping pup. At the moment, a dark silhouette of a tall man appeared in my right prereferral on the sidewalk, he was looking in my direction. His face was covered by his black hood, but I knew he was matching me. Disturbed and uncomfortable as I was, he starts walking in my direction. As he got closer, nerves began tingling all over my body. My conscience screaming at me to 'Get inside now!' And I listened, discreetly walking a little faster to get to my door.

   His head following my retreating figure as I scurry into the house after I finally unlocked the door, walk in, and shut the door. "Hey, Ami, that was a pretty long stroll you took, see anything interesting around?" Mom called from the dining room as she flipped a page in her book. I froze midstep feeling my heart race, "Was I scared of him?" I question myself silently, turning back to the door to look outside the window next to the door, and to my surprise, no one was out there. 'Maybe he passed by already or probably wasn't even there in the first place ' I thought as I looked around a bit more. "Ami, what's wrong?" Dad asked. Turning to face him, I crossed my arms over the lump in my sweatshirt whilst holding the pup. I was careful not to expose him or crush him. "We might have some creepy neighbors," I said speed walking to the stairs, "What's that you got there?" Mom asked peeking her head up from her book, "Don't worry about it, I got it from the store, my room needs more decor" I lied, She nods. "Okay then," She says, continuing her reading, but Dad wasn't buying it. He narrows his eyes up the stairs as I hurried away, "Decor huh?" he mumbles.

  I closed my bedroom door, locking it with a sigh. I walk over to my window, double-checking for that strange guy. I shrugged, still nowhere in sight. I grabbed my key from my back pocket, set it back into the desk drawer, and shuffled to my bed. Gently, I heaved the pup out of my sweater and on to my bed. As he softly plopped out, he awakened yawning and stared up at me. "Poor thing what were you doing out there by yourself? I hope you weren't abandoned " I whispered softly to the pup as if it understood.

  The pup whined answering me, I turned to get my desk chair, dragging it over to the front of the bed to sit down. I visually investigate the pup with curiosity, its deep brown eyes stared into mine, with the same expression, "You have pretty brown eyes like golden honey in autumn, such a precious little boy" I commented, he stuck his tongue out and started panting with a smile, tail wagging behind him. "I don't know what I was thinking when I decided to bring you here," I twist my coily hair on my finger mindlessly, "Oh, what now? They probably won't let me keep you, you being a wolf cub and all" I said spinning in the chair out of frustration. The pup barked, "Shhhh! They'll hear you, I really don't feel like hearing them yell at me right now, so please be quiet" I pleaded as it licked my hand. He growled as he bit my hand playfully, he still had tiny puppy teeth, I giggled as he rolled on my bed, getting tangled in my sheets. I pounced at him playfully, he darted to the left then right trying to dodge me. Barking again as he catches my hand in triumph, "Shhh!" I said for the second time.

  He turned his head to the side as I shushed him, I smirked and shushed again making him tilt his head to the other side.

   I cooed at his adorableness, "Where are you going to sleep tonight? " I asked myself mostly as I took off my sweat jacket and flung it over to my basket in the corner of the room, I looked at the pup as I straightened up my muddy paw-printed white tank top. His back was turned to me looking the other direction, I raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?" I asked the pup, the pup turned smiling and wagged his tail. I smiled kind of confused. 'Since when did wolves have manners?' I thought, shaking my head. I glanced at the clock, 10:39 pm it read. "I need to take a shower, You need to stay there, and stay out of sight, Okay little man?" I said to the pup, He shook his fur and sneezed. "I'll take that as a 'Yes, ma'am'," I said as I grabbed my shower bag and clothes from the stool in front of my bed, and head out the room.

   I start to undress after making my hair into a medium-length braid and wrapping it around to create a temporary bun. I grab my scented soap and get in the shower let it glide over my soft mocha skin, the scent of lemon, pomegranate, and vanilla rushed into my senses, easing the mind. I glance at my scars, running my fingers across the rippled skin made it tingle. Like a reminder of just how cruel people can be, and just how far they can go just to hurt you. Slanting my head back into the hot water, I uncoil my bun and let the water run through my braided hair and over my face. This way my hair would be wavy in the morning as it dries overnight.

   Stepping out, I dried off and rubbed some lotion on. As I got dressed I heard a bit of commotion coming from my room, anxious I rushed to put my clothes on. I burst out of the bathroom, immediately noticing the cracked open door. I nudged it open, stunned to see the pup playing with Dad, my jaw dropped as my bag did. Dad turned to the sound and smirked at me "Something for your room, huh?" He questions, petting the pup, his brow raised. My gaze bounced from the pup and back to Dad's quizzing expression, the pup continued to pull on Dad's shirt growling and shaking his head like no tomorrow. Dad chuckled as he looked back at the pup and played with him some more. "Where did you find him?" His interrogation beginning, I was about to reply when stops me. "An honest answer," his eyes filled with many warnings when he glances up at me. I huffed in defeat, he knew I would do prevaricate my ass off.

   "I went into the forest across the street and found him in some bushes shivering to death, without me being there in time he would have died," I said as I sat on the bed next to him with the pup in the middle. Dad looks at me with a smile, "I understand, but do you realize he's a wolf cub, his mom could be looking for do along with his pack." Dad told me "I know he's a wolf cub it's obvious by how distinct his characteristics are, but the was no one around when I found him,"  Dad scratches his head in thought, " But I swear to you I will take him back to the forest tomorrow to look for his mother in the morning when it's much warmer. Just let him stay the night" I said as he crossed his arms over his lap where the pup had fallen quickly asleep while we talked. He looks down at the pup and sighs as his little frame laid still, "And if you can't find his mother?" Dad asked looking at me with curious eyes.

  "I'll take full responsibility for taking care of him," I said with a small smile looking at the little pup sleep, Dad smirked watching me in amusement. I glanced at him meeting with his subtle regard to my pleas, I turned away from him embarrassed. I cleared my throat, "Like I said I-I'll take responsibility for him" I repeated. He nods, "I hope you can," He says picking up the pup and handing him to me as he stood up. I blinked rapidly, astounded "Really?! Just like that? No disagreement? No rejection? No anything? " I asked in a confused frenzy.

"Nope, you seem capable," he says and leaves my room, "What about mom?" I called, he paused. "I'll just explain everything you told me to her, simple." He says with a wink and closes the door. I exhaled relieved, but couldn't help the feeling that something was off about his unexcepted ruling. Shrugging it off, I look down at the sleeping pup in my lap. Gently I moved him onto the bed, I get up to grab some extra blankets from my closet and start to make a small soft bed for him at the foot of the mattress to the side, he whines as he's laid down into it comfortably. I crawl to the head of the queen bed and lay out feeling more relaxed than usual. "What a long day," I breathed.

    The bed wobbles a little, I sit up to peek at the now awake pup, assumedly staring out the window ahead. "I thought you were sleeping?" I questioned, he turned to look at me his ears standing proudly on his head. I stared at his little frame curiously, "You want to come up?" I asked as I patted the spot next to me.

  He wags his tail tiredly before getting up and walking to the top of the bed next to me. I chuckled as he did a few circles and laid down, "Well, I assume the blanket bed wasn't good enough for you," He shivered as the night wind blew through the still open window. I get up and closed the window, and walked back to bed. Slipping under the blankets, I looked at the time, 12:00 am. "Don't worry, we'll find your mama tomorrow" I said as I yawned. "I'm sure she's still out there somewhere,"

   As I slowly drifted off into a deep sleep, I notice a dark figure with a black hood sitting in the corner of the room. Mesmerizing silver eyes gleamed from under the hood as the moonlight strikes them intensely. Exhausted, I dismissed it feeling as though my mind was playing tricks on me, and resumed to let myself recede into a hibernate state for the night.

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